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Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2004 Publication Date: 9/28/2004 Citation: Rice, C. 2004. Alkylphenols in biota, sediment and water of midwestern waterways [Abstract]. Conference on Persistent Contaminants: New Priorities, New Concerns, NIEHS Superfund Sponsored. Bear Mountain, NY, Sept. 28-30, 2004. pp 23-24. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Alkylphenol ethoxylates are established markers of industrial and municipal pollution. The compounds find their way into the environment as natural degradation products of their parent commercial polymers, the nonylphenol and octylphenol ethoxylates. These mixtures are popularly used in commerce for their surfactant properties and most importantly as industrial cleaning agents. Studies have confirmed their presence in river waters and sediments. The residues are found to accumulate in fish and have been shown to have endocrine disruption activity. Most of the reports for nonylphenols in fish in tributaries and lakes in the US are lacking enough information on their exposure to identify possible sources. In a study of the Cuyahoga River in Ohio, we evaluated the contamination of NP and NPnEOs in water, sediment and carp along 84 miles of Cuyahoga River. Using this information, sources could be identified. Data for the levels of APEs in several study sites with an emphasis on Midwestern waterways, e.g., the Great Lakes and some effluent-dominated rivers in Chicago, Detroit and St. Paul, will be presented. These data will be evaluated in order to speculate about the overall North American distribution of this newly emerged class of pollutant. |
